Apple Sourcing Carbon Fiber Components for Upcoming Product?

[marioguarneros]

I hope we see a similar iPad design as the new iPhone 5 before we jump into another material for our Apple devices.

I can imagine an iPad with the anodized aluminium finish in black or white being really sleek just like the iPhone 5, and before anyone starts bitching: I'm fine with the normal wear and tear of the devices, maybe it helps that I don't have a two year old going at it with a full set of keys, lol.

 

[Mousse]

OOooOooo... carbon fiber would make for a lighter Mac, strong too. But I'm concerned about the insulating property of carbon fiber. Surely it doesn't conduct heat like aluminum does, so cooling could be a sticking point. A carbon fiber Mac Pro... oh hail yeah.

 

[nick_elt]

Well, not everyone; in Canada, we spell and pronounce it aluminum (well, except for profs imported from the UK).

Canada/america, same thing.........

Joking

Back to topic

 

[xxgilxx]

Carbon fiber Apple Maps? Niiiiice!!!!

 

[izyreal]

Apple TV

While it would be very expensive, it would also be really cool for the Apple TV to be made with a carbon fiber body! Woo! First to start the carbon fiber TV rumors!!

 

[nick_elt]

While it would be very expensive, it would also be really cool for the Apple TV to be made with a carbon fiber body! Woo! First to start the carbon fiber TV rumors!!

Pointless too no?

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Ipad 4 i reckon is the most likely if they do use it soon

 

[Sweetfeld28]

But will it dent?

It does not Dent, it breaks. Carbon Fiber is one of the strongest man made materials around. Just google an Enzo Ferrari, and crash, and see what come up. Most pictures are after a high rate of speed collision.

The down sides to carbon fiber:

1. Production Time. Most of it is hand made.

2. Stress Factor. Like I already stated, it doesn't bend, it breaks, cracks, or gets crushed; thus it can't be easily repaired... just replaced.

3. Cost, plan and simple.

 

[Compile 'em all]

I wonder if they will go with this iPhone 5 design for another year or will switch to something else.

 

[topmounter]

The possibilities are endless...

 

[Ciclismo]

Is it 'normal' for carbon fiber to scratch?

Ask anyone who's got a brand new carbon fibre bike what keeps them awake at night.

I doubt that the carbon parts will be readily identifiable as such, they'll prolly get a protective slathering of paint.

@Topmounter: Coloured "carbon fibre" is coloured fibreglass and often a lot heavier - carbon fibre only comes in black.

 

[donrsd]

Does this mean we no longer get hear Johnny Ive say, "AL-YEW-MIN-EE-YUM" in the promo videos?

HAHAHA - thats hilarious.
Great post!

 

[g0odfr1end102]

FINALLY!

iPhone 6 rumors!

 

[iSamurai]

Is it 'normal' for carbon fiber to scratch?

that's dependent on the hardness of epoxy, which is low in this case. I'd assume they put a layer of protective coating on the surface.

 

[Sardonick007]

Yep

Love the white, love the aluminum, but would absolutely kill for carbon fiber.

 

[DennisD7]

It does not Dent, it breaks. Carbon Fiber is one of the strongest man made materials around. Just google an Enzo Ferrari, and crash, and see what come up. Most pictures are after a high rate of speed collision.

The down sides to carbon fiber:

1. Production Time. Most of it is hand made.

2. Stress Factor. Like I already stated, it doesn't bend, it breaks, cracks, or gets crushed; thus it can't be easily repaired... just replaced.

3. Cost, plan and simple.

Aren't most PCBs made out of fibre glass material? Do you think it would be possible to use a carbon fiber board for surface mounted components?

If so, they might be planning to put their components right onto the outer shell itself (on the inside of it thought ) That would make for some seriously thin products, especially for the iPads and their smaller gadgets.

 

[powers74]

Carbon Fiber would make sense for a TV...

 

[Akira1980]

Apple need to buy this from Toyota.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4DLr8qHliI

 

[-FlyAuburn-]

Titanium FTW

Adamantium FTW

 

[Galatian]

Also one thing to consider for all those people suggesting this being used on a new Mac: The metal housing is not without point on PCs. It actually serves as a shielding for the components inside from electromagnetic radiation which could interfere with the internals otherwise.
I'm not sure carbon fiber provides any shielding?

 

[d3r3k]

 

[iScott428]

Carbon Fiber-Liquid Metal MBP? iMac? aTV? Mac Mini?

Well I can dream right?

 

[iSamurai]

Titanium FTW

too expensive for a mass produced phone... plus it's not easy to get hold of titanium as they're all scooped up by government reserves and the aerospace industry...

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Reports from early 2011 are called "More recently"?

yes.... 1.5 years is more recent than 4 years ago.... do you have problems with chronology?

 

[Yvan256]

You do know that's how people in the UK (I'm not sure of other parts of Europe) pronounce Aluminium, don't you?

It's also aluminium in Canada and I think most countries on this planet. Only in the USA do we hear things like "aluminum" and "nucular".

And if Apple uses a material, you better hope it can be recycled. I don't think carbon fiber is recyclable.

 

[thenbagis]

As a composites engineer, I really DON'T want to see this happen... Computers general plenty of heat and aluminum dissipates it wonderfully; allowing you to cool without the need of much air movement (i.e. fan).

Carbon fiber (or fibre to Jony) doesn't dissipate heat and will likely run hotter, resulting in "you're cooling it wrong"

As far as carbon fiber breaking easy, there are "toughened epoxies" out there that will improve the durability/toughness of the carbon fiber.